'We need certified umpires for our matches'

published by ikhan on Sat, 04/05/2014 - 06:59

Jamaica Gleaner article.

Western Bureau: With the Westmoreland T20 Cricket League on in earnest, Deltonia Williams, president of the parish association, is calling attention to a ruling by the Jamaica Cricket Umpires Association (JCUA) that limits the use of qualified umpires for the league.

The league, which was launched two weeks ago with huge fanfare has so far been garnering great interest from cricket lovers across the parish. While support for the game from the public has been tremendous, players are often left seething after matches, citing inconsistency on the part of umpires.

So bad has the situation been that members of the Bogg Cricket Club failed to turn up for their second round match against Paradise last week in protest over poor officiating.

Williams fears that if the ruling from the JCUA is allowed to stand, the league will cease to exist after the first year.

The umpires association has asked the Westmoreland Cricket Association to fork out approximately $160,000 in payment to allow their registered umpires to officiate the matches and Williams sees this as a backward approach.

RIDICULOUS

"This is absolutely ridiculous that our better umpires, those who are members of the umpires association, cannot officiate in our matches," he said.

"This cannot be allowed to continue because we have qualified umpires here in Westmoreland, but cannot get them to officiate because the umpires association is asking for an arm and a leg."

He said for the sake of growth in the league, he is requesting a withdrawal of that rule, as the games cannot be served well with "pick up umpires".

The League continues on Sunday, with two matches at the Petersville Primary School ground, in the first encounter Darliston will take on Bogg, then in the feature match, Sandals meets Bigwoods, and at Paradise, the home side clash with Petersville.